- What: Virtual Hill Week
- When: November 12th-15th
- Where: Anywhere! (you can set up meetings using Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or a phone call)
- How: reach out to melfi@fasdunited.org for help or schedule your own meeting
Your voice and experience are needed now more than ever. From November 12th to November 15th, we are calling on advocates from across the country to participate in Virtual Hill Week and push for the passage of the FASD Respect before the 118th Congress wraps up at the end of the year. Join us in scheduling meetings with Senators and Representatives to give FASD a seat in conversations about health policy and ensure the FASD Respect Act is well-positioned to pass in the coming two months.
Why Virtual Hill Week Matters
The week of November 12th is the first time Congress will be back in session since September, and they have a slate of bills they need to work through before the end of the year. By meeting with members of Congress right after the presidential election, we are making sure FASD is on their list of priorities.
The FASD United Policy Team will attend in-person meetings, but a concerted effort from this amazing community can make more of an impact than one organization can. Anyone who has participated in a meeting with a legislator or a staff member surely agrees that these meetings are better when you have the support of your community. We want to make sure you have that community support, so a FASD United Staff member or experienced advocate can join any meetings you schedule!
How You Can Get Involved
Participating is easy! If you’re interested in joining Virtual Hill Week, you can contact us at melfi@fasdunited.org. You can also schedule your own meetings and coordinate with us if you would like any help. We would be happy to help schedule meetings, go over talking points, or attend meetings with you.
Reasons to Reach Out
- If the FASD Respect Act does not pass before the end of the 118th Congress, it needs to be reintroduced during the 119th Congress.
- Legislators need to know that FASD is a priority issue.
- The Senate will likely vote on the SUPPORT Reauthorization Act (S.3393), which includes language from the FASD Respect Act. We need support from Representatives and Senators to make sure the FASD Respect Act language stays in the final version of that bill.
- Follow up on past meetings to provide updates on bill status.
Make an Impact From Home:
- Letter to the Editor: Send this to media outlets to show your support and raise awareness
- Letter/Email to your Representative and Senators: Feel free to send any letters you want delivered to your Congressperson straight to me at FASD United and I will hand deliver them!
- Letter to friends, families, or local organization urging them to advocate for FASD awareness: This is a group effort. Use this letter if you want to urge others to advocate for FASD!
- Talking points: These basic talking points can be referenced, and you can find even more info here
